# NTSB MIA95LA128: Robinson R22 Beta, N2321X, Miami, FL, May 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 1995, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.650218, -80.410202 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6502&lon=-80.4102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37765/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA128 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI FOR ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO INITIATE INITIAL FLARE AND POWER RECOVERY AT 100 FEET INSTEAD OF 40 FEET AND 40 FEET INSTEAD OF 8-10 FEET RESPECTIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, FAILURE OF THE CFI TO COMPLY WITH THE FAA APPROVED FLIGHT MANUALS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - cyclic - premature, dual student - collective - premature, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - flight manuals - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis THE LESSON WAS TO PREPARE THE STUDENT FOR A SCHEDULED CHECK RIDE. WHILE PERFORMING PRACTICE AUTOROTATIVE LANDINGS WITH POWER RECOVERY, THE CFI ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO INITIATE THE FLARE AT 100 FEET INSTEAD OF 40 FEET AS INDICATED IN THE FAA APPROVED PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH). ALSO, THE CFI ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO INITIATE THE POWER RECOVERY AT 40 FEET INSTEAD OF 8-10 FEET AS ALSO INDICATED IN THE POH. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED A SECTION OF THE TAILBOOM. THE CFI STATED THAT THERE WAS NO AIRFRAME PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 1995, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registered to Metro Helicopter, Inc., operated by Ace Helicopter Corp., landed hard at the Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured. The flight originated about 1040 from the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida. The CFI stated that the student pilot was performing a practice autorotation with power recovery. The entry altitude and airspeed were 600 feet and 75 knots. The glide airspeed stabilized at 65 knots and at 100 feet, the rotor rpm was in the green range, the airspeed was 60 knots, and the rate of descent was 1,500 feet per minute (fpm). At 100 feet the student initiated the flare and at 40 feet, forward cyclic and power were applied. The main rotor rpm then began to decay and the helicopter impacted the ground hard. A section of the tailboom was then severed by the main rotor blades. The CFI stated that there was no engine or airframe preimpact failure or malfunction. According to the airframe manufacturer pilot's operating handbook normal procedures section and the flight training guide, the stated altitude to initiate the flare is about 40 feet above ground level (agl). At about 8-10 feet agl, apply forward cyclic to level the helicopter and raise collective to stop the descent. Additionally, power as required to keep the rpm in the green arc. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2321X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2321X-2000-12-08), registration cancelled 2000-12-08, S/N 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1976 - Airframe hours: 1107 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 131 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ace Helicopter Corp. - Registered owner: Metro Helicopter, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 24, 1995, 100 hours before - Departed: TMB - Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,679 total, 569 in this make and model, 3,120 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TMB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950507009729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950507009729A), May 7, 1995: Robsin R22BETA, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Student practice on autorotation with power recovery. Allowed rotor RPM decay. Impacted runway. CFI failed to act. ## Other investigations on N2321X (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL99LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA033), Dec 10, 1998: Robinson R-22B (N2321X), Lantana, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the flight controls during an attempted autorotation. - [NTSB MIA93LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA004), Oct 5, 1992: Robinson R22 Beta (N2321X), Naples, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: INCORRECT AIRSPEED, INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOLLOWING THE IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.